An improved unusual finite element method is studied herein for a second-order linear scalar differential equation including a zero-order term. The method consists in subtracting from the standard Galerkin method a mesh dependent term suggested by static condensation of the bubbles. Based on this idea, a neu stabilized parameter is constructed, which improves accuracy of the solution, Several numerical tests attest the efficiency of the present method and an error analysis is performed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.